Why Take a Guided Pearl Harbor Tour?

We get it. You’re the independent type. You enjoy exploring new things on your own, and the idea of sharing a new experience with strangers doesn’t appeal to you. You’re not the only one. There are many activities where you’re better left to your own devices, but when it comes to gaining a better understanding an event that had such a huge impact on the United States, it’s worth setting aside your disdain for groups and joining a guided Pearl Harbor tour.

The point of a tour isn’t just to put everything in a neat little package, though that’s definitely a major perk. It’s to ensure that you get everything you can out of your visit to Pearl Harbor. There’s a lot to see, a lot to learn about, and a lot to take in at Pearl Harbor and our carefully crafted tours are your ticket to missing none of it.

Not convinced? Here are a few reasons why you should take that step and book a guided Pearl Harbor tour.

You’ll See it All

Battleship Missouri (BB-63) is just one of the popular stops on a guided Pearl Harbor tour

As we said, Pearl Harbor tours combine everything you want to experience at the historic naval base into one package.

Visiting Pearl Harbor isn’t like visiting a museum. Sure, there are exhibits protected behind glass displays, but memorials and other notable sites are scattered throughout the area. If you find yourself deeply engrossed in, say, the USS Arizona Memorial or the Battleship Missouri, you may find yourself running out of time to explore the fascinating Bowfin submarine. With a tour, you can be sure that you’ll hit every location that’s listed on the itinerary.

On top of seeing everything, you also have an expert tour guide to provide you with insights into the events of December 7, 1941 that may not be covered by the exhibits on display. The more information you can soak up during your time at Pearl Harbor, the more meaningful the experience will be.

Let Someone Else Worry About Transportation

There are few things more annoying when you’re on vacation than having to deal with finding transportation. Do you really want to rent a car just to battle traffic to get to Pearl Harbor? Or spend a small fortune on a taxi? Sure, TheBus, Honolulu’s public transportation system, is cheap, but it can take over twice as long to get you to your destination.

If you’re staying in Waikiki, tours usually include transportation between the major hotels and Pearl Harbor. As a bonus, on the way to the naval base your guide provides plenty of background information.

You Don’t Even Have to Be on Oahu!

What if you’re not staying on Oahu? Trying to set up a visit to Pearl Harbor from the neighbor islands on your own means you get the additional headache of arranging flights. Why deal with the hassle? Vacationing should be all about convenience. An inter-island guided Pearl Harbor tour lets you avoid the hassle of finding the flight times that give you enough time to experience Pearl Harbor, but won’t leave you sitting at the airport for hours on end. Whether you’re staying on Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island, all you have to do is show up for your flight. Once you land in Honolulu, your guide takes you straight from the airport to Pearl Harbor.

Tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial Are Limited

A US Navy shuttle boat takes visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is the focal point of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Built directly over the sunken USS Arizona, the memorial is dedicated to the 1,177 men who died when their battleship exploded and sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Conditions permitting, visitors take a US Navy shuttle boat ride to the memorial and look down on the wreckage of USS Arizona, but there is a limit on the number of tickets for the timed program given out each day starting at 7:00 AM. Should you arrive later in the day, there’s a very good chance there won’t be any tickets left.

Every guided Pearl Harbor tour includes tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial program, so there’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Book Your Guided Pearl Harbor Tour Today!

As you can see, there are plenty of great reasons to book a Pearl Harbor tour, and since tours fill up quickly, it’s best to reserve your spot sooner rather than later!

The Pearl Harbor Visitors Bureau is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, National Park Service, or U.S. Department of the Interior.